Women Who Ran: Violet Blumenberg

About Violet Blumenberg (1879-1947)

In 1919, Violet Blumenberg ran an unsuccessful campaign for the office of Grand Rapids City Comptroller. She received a total of 5,294 votes to her opponent Radolph Doornink’s 20,131. Although Blumenberg’s comptroller race was technically nonpartisan, newspapers reporting on her run referred to her as a “woman socialist.”

Grand Rapids Press, February 20 1919

Shortly after her campaign for city comptroller, Blumenberg and her husband Benjamin moved to Detroit, where they played an active role in Michigan labor circles. In 1919, Blumenberg was elected secretary of the Workers’ Educational Association of Michigan. And in 1920, she was nominated as a candidate for presidential elector on behalf of the Michigan Socialist Party.  Her name appears on the same ballot as her husband’s, who ran for governor on the Socialist Party ticket at the same time as she stood for presidential elector. Neither won their race.

Sources

“Commission Seats to ‘Three Johns’: Emery, M’Nabb and M’Coll Win in Strong Run.” Grand Rapids Press, March 6, 1919.

“General Election Ballot as it Will Look When Placed Before Lenawee Voters November 2.” Adrian Daily Telegram, October 29, 1920.

Michigan Supreme Court Records and Briefs, Workers’ Educational Association v. Renner, 218 Mich 302 (1922): Record. https://books.google.com/books?id=WwdVg0RXQGIC

Michigan, U.S. Death Records, 1867-1952 for Violet Blumenberg, Certificates 1921-1945, 710: Wayne (Detroit), 1947.

“Socialists Nominate State-Nation Ticket.” Ann Arbor Times, September 13, 1920.

“Two Women on Candidate Lists: Mrs. Etta Smith and Violet Blumenberg After Municipal Jobs.” Grand Rapids Press, February 20, 1919.